Les Miz or Les Mis?

[morosco]

Even the Les Miserables website has it both ways. Is there an official way to spell the abbreviated title?

[LizzieCurry]

I don't think so, though Richard-Jay Alexander used to use the "z" for the American productions and the "s" for all the others.

[EponineAmneris]

I think it goes Z for Americans and S European/elsewhere in the world.

For what it's worth, I have always used Z

[broadwaydevil]

If you had no idea how to pronounce it, Les Miz is better phonetically though since the actual title is Les Miserables, Les Mis makes more sense. I've always used Les Mis.

[watchmesoar]

There was a marquee in London (until 2010, I think, it has the blueish design), saying "LES MIZ" - so there´s no real differentiation between the American and the European production conerning the spelling...

For me, it´s Les Miz.

[Phantom4ever]

I definitely go with Les Miz. Can't ever remember seeing Les Mis anywhere. Although since the late 1980's, my aunt has called it La Miz.

[p.s.]

Link is to opinions from four years ago.


p.s.

By the way -- What would you say about showbiz?

There's no bis like it?
2008 discussion!

[michellek45]

If you're using American phonetics, it only makes sense to use Les Miz. If you did Les Mis, the actual pronunciation would be "Les Miss."

[jo]

In 1989, the book by Edward Behr called LES MISERABLES: HISTORY IN THE MAKING was published in the United Kingdom. One of its most informative and insightul chapters was called " From Les Miserables to 'Les Mis' "

Maybe that was the first time the nickname was used or maybe he was just repeating what some early fans have devised as an affectionate nickname for the show ? I think it referred to the stage musical as we know it now -- reimagined from its original sources, i.e., the book by Victor Hugo and the original musical staged in Paris! This particular chapter from the book traces the development of the English-based stage musical which debuted at the Barbican in London.

But it is still a French musical, at least by its title -- "Les Miserables", not "The Miserables"

[BroadwayFan12]

I'm American and I always use Les Mis.

[Marianne2]

I'm also in the US and use Les Mis. To me that makes sense because it's just a shortened title. Or is there more to it that I just don't know?

[kdogg36]

If you're using American phonetics, it only makes sense to use Les Miz. If you did Les Mis, the actual pronunciation would be "Les Miss."

Is that the case? :)

[Matt2]

Les Miz with a 'Z'

It's Les Miz with a Z
Not Les Mis with an S
Cause Les Mis with an S
Goes "sss" not "zzz"
It's Z instead of S
Iz instead of Is
It's simple as an be
See Les Miz!
I'll do it again...

[michellek45]

kdogg, it's because of the consonant in front that you say it differently. The only exception to this I can think of is "his."

[ClapYo'Hands]

I always say "Les Misérables"...

But seriously, I don't understand why people would call it Les Miz, there's just no "z" in the title...

[redmustang]

Is there any difference between Lay Ms and Lay Miss?

[My Oh My]

Lei Mizer-ROB

Merry-us

Cassette

John Val John (or Val John)

Javier

On-jor-ass

Fan-teen

Eeeeeep-oh-9

Thenaysiwguwgubwug

Gav-roach

And my favorite from a ticketmaster agent: Less Miss-er-el-libis.